Last time I looked there is a huge game for England in Dublin next week. Today England are champions, but it will mean little if they don't finish the job next Saturday. I will hold my celebrations until Saturday evening, and hope they pull it out.

Maybe you have the right idea. Celebrate while we can. England have won two Six Nations in a row. And have also tied the world record for consecutive wins against tier 1 teams at 18. This really is great stuff.

But, for me, it will be hollow if England don't win next Saturday. Yes, England will still be 2017 Six Nations winners. But I analogise things to being at a party and leaving with a woman who wants to pleasure you all night long. If England beat Ireland the woman is Halle Berry. If England lose to Ireland she is Theresa May.

England are hands down the best team in the Northern Hemisphere. They do it all... with bells on. Obviously they are worthy Champs and that's true regardless of what happens in Dublin. The best is the best - the best sometimes get beaten but so what? The Six Nations is over as a contest. England have a right to start the celebrations early.

Some of their fans on here need to be a bit more humble and stop running other nation's noses in it. We can all see how strong England are. We don't need it getting ranmed down our throats.

RR ... but England wouldn't be universally hated if it wasn't for that arrogance!

Got to cut them some slack too, England were humiliated in their home RWC a mere 18 games ago, and they've been forced to swallow a lot of pride and employ the antithesis of Englishness - an Australian.

Worthy champions, but I fear a repeat of 2011. Ireland are a good side who will be desperate to make amends for this weekend. They will be fred up and determined to make history themselves by again beating a side going for 19. I expect an Ireland win, but hope to be surprised.

While England may have stuttered to victories in first three rounds, it should be considered that the other countries are in general in better form than in 2016.

They won they 6N well done, but they are nothing special. New Zealand would destroy them and I have a feeling Ireland will slap them down next week too. Far from the polished item, but we all know what can not be polished

rainbow-warrior wrote:They won they 6N well done, but they are nothing special. New Zealand would destroy them and I have a feeling Ireland will slap them down next week too. Far from the polished item, but we all know what can not be polished

Ireland will want to beat England, but nowhere on the same level as a first ever win over the ABs. Being the first team to beat the reigning World Champs was also something they've done before but still marginally historic. The England game has neither of those carrots.It's England who will be the history makers according to Jones, as his team have a chance to be all-time greats with back to back Slams. The pressure is on England and rightly so as they are massive favourites.

"They won they 6N well done, but they are nothing special. New Zealand would destroy them and I have a feeling Ireland will slap them down next week too. Far from the polished item, but we all know what can not be polished"

I voted no. Despite having played snd watched rugby for 40 years , I've learnt an awful lot from the very many grest luminaries on this board. England are in fact an over-hyped, over-rated bunch of losers who would only fill a couple of the dirt trackrrs spots on the Lions tour. A very, very (x 18 ) lucky side.

Last edited by Presuming Ed on Sun 12 Mar 2017, 3:28 pm; edited 1 time in total

Tighthead and rugbyjyk are pretty grace less arses but I think most England fans are pretty realistic. If anything up until yesterday they were underestimating the side ...and yes off the back of tearing Scotland up there's a fair bit of over the top trumpet blowing going on....ignoring the impact that the injuries did have on the game too.

Thing is really don't think we've learnt anything we didn't known already know.If teams let England play and they turn up switched on they are pretty devastating, especially against teams that come to play an open game against them and aren't strong defensively ( ie scotland) . They also still ship tries regardless of opposition and game circumstance.

" on their day" they are clearly a step above the rest of the NH and ahead of SA and Australia. Where they are in relation to NZ is less clear...but certainly they couldn't have sustained this run of victories without having a deep squad and quality.

So Ireland...a very different prospect to Scotland and the sort of team that play in a way that will stiffle England more. They have their own problems though and pending injuries may have a pretty limp backs unit. Morale is one of those things...we've seen Wales come back from a kicking to lay down a marker ...no reason Ireland can't do the same. Or they may have let their heads drop and feel intimidated out of the game from the start.

All the same England are clearly worthy champions...it's a pity people's true colours come out after a few too many sugary drinks though. Normal service is resumed with sniping and arrogance. Yawn.

England are worthy champions. There isn't much between Wales, Ireland, Scotland and France, but clearly England are well ahead of us all.

They crushed Scotland, and won a brutal game in Cardiff in the last few minutes.

I think next year will be interesting for England. I said on the topic where Eddie Jones got the England job that he was a "boom and bust coach". England will either have a rocket attached to it's backside, or will crash and burn, Jones's coaching career has been like that all the way through.

In Chicago, Ireland beat New Zealand. In Edinburgh, Scotland beat Ireland and Wales. In Cardiff, England beat Wales and Wales beat Ireland. In Dublin, Ireland beat France. In London, England beat Italy, France and Scotland. In those 9 games, only 2 have been won away from home (by Ireland and England). Next week in Dublin will be quite a match.

aucklandlaurie wrote:Of course England are worthy champions, they won the most games didnt they?

I'd have thought that every year the winner of the competition is a worthy champion. cant see why the question even needs to be asked.

Because old boy there are many here on 606 that do not rate England or more importantly think the players are going to make up the majority of the Lions party, I for one think the question is worth asking and by some of the responses above shows tha battle some of these guys are up against despite winning back to back titles.

Don't worry Tight. 606ers don't choose the Lions team so keep your eye on Gatland rather than these threads. If it means anything, he looked as smug as a pig in schidt when looking at his Welsh boys put Ireland to the sword so....................... looks like it's going to be a shoot out between English and Welsh players for those Lions shirts. Enjoy the battles.

SecretFly wrote:Don't worry Tight. 606ers don't choose the Lions team so keep your eye on Gatland rather than these threads. If it means anything, he looked as smug as a pig in schidt when looking at his Welsh boys put Ireland to the sword so....................... looks like it's going to be a shoot out between English and Welsh players for those Lions shirts. Enjoy the battles.

To tell the truth, when Gatland was on camera with that happy-happy-satisfied look about him, I have been informed he had just passed gas. That is why you also saw the other Welsh coaches getting up to leave.

SecretFly wrote:Don't worry Tight. 606ers don't choose the Lions team so keep your eye on Gatland rather than these threads. If it means anything, he looked as smug as a pig in schidt when looking at his Welsh boys put Ireland to the sword so....................... looks like it's going to be a shoot out between English and Welsh players for those Lions shirts. Enjoy the battles.

To tell the truth, when Gatland was on camera with that happy-happy-satisfied look about him, I have been informed he had just passed gas. That is why you also saw the other Welsh coaches getting up to leave.

I stand corrected. That is indeed a more valid reading of the optics of the situation, Doc. Apologies for my blatant fake news attempt, folks - it's addictive.

England have not played well (bar Saturday) but they have won their games so yes worthy champions.

Its always suggested that when the Aussies / Kiwis / SA's etc are playing badly and winning its the sign of a good...however seemingly with some other nations fans because its England...that doesn't follow.

They still won only playing to anything like their potential for 40 minutes in each of their first 3 games. Then they put together a full 80, playing to their potential, against Scotland and we all saw the result.

Given the propaganda emanating from Eddie Jones, like a wumming goblin Pez-dispensor and the fact that the media adoringly re-prints everything that he says - the difficult thing for Gatland is going to be sifting through the teams to see who contributed the most to the relative success of their respective teams in this tournament and then trying to compare between those players to find what the objective standard is.

Tough one, as each of the other home nations teams (apart from England) had at least one stinker of a game.